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SWF December 2017 Newsletter
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Upcoming Events
Jan 22, 2018
Insurance and Responsible Behavior in Space

Jan 23, 2018
Space and Cyber Seminar

Feb 15-Feb 17, 2018
4th ORF Kalpana Chawla Annual Space Policy Dialogue

Upcoming Engagements
Jan 8-Jan 12, 2018
Michael Simpson and Ian Christensen will participate in the AIAA Space Commercialization Executive Summit and AIAA SciTech Forum in Kissimmee, Florida

Jan 9-Jan 10, 2018
Brian Weeden will speak at the 2nd Symposium on Space and Deterrence organized by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California

Jan 14-Jan 16, 2018
Ian Christensen will speak at the SATEXPO Conference and the GVF Satellite Summit, both part of CABSAT 2018, in Dubai, UAE

Jan 15-Jan 19, 2018
Victoria Samson will present a paper on the future of SSA at the 2018 Embry-Riddle Space Traffic Management Conference in Daytona, Florida

Jan 23, 2018
Krystal Wilson will present at the USGIF Small Satellite Workshop in Springfield, Virginia

Jan 25-Feb 5, 2018
Michael Simpson and Chris Johnson will attend the ISU SH-SSP in Adelaide, Australia

Jan 29-Feb 9, 2018
Brian Weeden and Krystal Wilson will attend the 55th session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna, Austria

Jan 31-Feb 1, 2018
Krystal Wilson will participate in the 8th GEO Programme Board meeting in Geneva, Switzerland

Feb 1-Feb 2, 2018 
Ian Christensen will speak at the 2018 Global Space and Technology Convention in Singapore

Feb 19-23, 2018
Brian Weeden will participate in the fourth MILAMOS Workshop in Montreal, Canada

Mar 8, 2018
Cynda Collins Arsenault and Victoria Samson will speak at International Women's Day in Denver, Colorado

Secure World Foundation Newsletter

December 2017

Insight - Supporting Earth Observation Policy and Coordination

By Krystal Wilson, Project Manager

The Earth observations field is evolving, driven by the emergence of a more diverse and capable commercial sector, activities being pursued by emerging space nations, and the emergence of issues that cross communities within the space sector. Given this, it is imperative that new activities be coordinated to be supportive of space sustainability. These trends are causing policy, legal, and regulatory shifts that can be seen in national and international organizations focused on Earth observation. Many events and research efforts focus on technical capabilities rather than policy and overarching coordination. Secure World Foundation actively participates with a variety of institutions because connecting discussions and policy efforts across the space and science communities will facilitate the broader and more effective use of Earth observation capabilities...continue reading.

Events

Dec 6, 2017
Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges of Citizen Science for Earth Observation
Project Manager Krystal Wilson, together with South Big Data Hub's Co-Director Lea Shanley, hosted a workshop which convened experts on citizen science and remote sensing satellites to outline a way forward in the key areas of best practices and policy considerations. The event began with a distinguished panel of experts from SciStarter, NASA, Mapbox, and Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists to highlight trends, current and future initiatives, and policy challenges. Then, in a small groups the technical experts from government, academia, and industry discussed technical and policy challenges and what activities, partnerships, data, tools, software, services, guidelines, and other resources are needed to support the integration of citizen science and Earth observation. A summary report will be available in January.


Dec 11, 2017
Colorado's Role in International Space Policy Discussed at the 2017 Space Round-Up
Project Manager Ian Christensen moderated a panel session discussing the Colorado's space economy and the role it plays in the international space policy dialogue at the 14th Annual Colorado Space Business Roundtable Round-up in Denver, CO. Panelists included Mr. Stéphane Lessard, Consul General of Canada in Denver; Ms. Erin Kuhn, British Consul, UK Government Office, Denver; and Ms. Berenice Rendón Talavera, Consul General, Consulate General of México in Denver. The panel provided an update and overview of the civil space activities of the included countries; and discussed the ways that local consular offices facilitate trade and cultural links between Colorado entities and the represented countries. 

Staff Activities and Presentations

Nov 9, 2017
SWF Discusses the Global Economic Impact of Space at Economist Space Summit
Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden spoke at the inaugural Space Summit, organized by the Economist magazine, on "A New Space Age" in Seattle, Washington. The event focused on the business and financial aspects of the commercial space revolution, and the challenges and opportunities it presents for life here on Earth. Dr. Weeden was invited to participat in a panel discussion on the global economic impact of space. 

Nov 13, 2017
WEF Council on the Future of Space Technologies Discusses Incentives for Space Sustainability
The World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils 2017, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, brought together more than 700 global experts from the WEF's network of Global Future Councils to identify the latest trends and risks, explore interconnections among issues, and collectively develop solutions to promote innovative thinking on the future. For the seventh year, Dr. Weeden participated as a member of the Council on Future of Space Technologies. The Space Council met to discuss possible incentives for encouraging responsible behavior in space that will enhance space sustainability and help ensure space can continue to enable and accelerate the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

Nov 15, 2017
SWF Participates at UN/UAE High Level Forum
SWF was a sponsoring partner and participant at this year's United Nations/United Arab Emirates High Level Forum – Space as a Driver for Sustainable Development, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Executive Director Michael Simpson, Project Manager Krystal Wilson, and Space Law Advisor Christopher Johnson presented and moderated multiple sessions during the forum, and Dr. Simpson delivered opening remarks and participated in the closing panel.

This year’s High Level Forum was held to focus attention and streamline priorities for the planned UNISPACE+50 Conference in 2018, and align the efforts of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Efforts towards its success are already underway. Fifty years after the UN's first conference on outer space, the UNISPACE+50 conference will bring the international community together again and set the priorities for the future of space governance and the coordination of space activities.

Nov 18, 2017
Hague Space Resources Governance Working Group Briefs New Space: Europe on Draft Building Blocks
Dr. Simpson attended the New Space: Europe Conference in Luxembourg to update attendees on the work of the Hague Space Resources Governance Working Group of which he has served as Vice Chair. During a one-hour press availability following the first day of the conference, Dr. Simpson and Working Group General Secretary, Giuseppe Reibaldi, briefed representatives of the press and interested delegates on the nineteen Draft Building Blocks for policy development that have been elaborated by the group. The draft building blocks can be accessed here and are open to public comment through June 30, 2018. Comments can be addressed to the working group secretariat at spaceresources@law.leidenuniv.nl.

Nov 20, 2017
NGO Role in Space Sustainability Discussed at APRSAF-24
Highlighting SWF's work in promoting space sustainability, Project Managers Krystal Wilson and Ian Christensen participated in the 24th Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) in Bengaluru, India. APRSAF is one of the largest annual civil space conferences in the Asia-Pacific region; SWF participated as member of the U.S. delegation organized by the U.S. Department of State.

Mr. Christensen presented on the policy context for private sector space activities at a workshop on Space Policy Perspectives for Governance in Space hosted by The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Public Policy and the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Ms. Wilson presented on the NGO Role in Promoting Best Practices for Emerging Space Stakeholders as part of U.S. Department of State organized side event panel on the topic of Supporting Regional Development Efforts Using Space Technology.

Nov 20-21, 2017
SWF Participates in the Moon Village Foundation Workshop
Dr. Simpson and Mr. Johnson participated at the recent Moon Village Foundation Workshop at the ISU Central Campus in Strasbourg, France. With the goal of contributing international perspectives on Lunar exploration to the UNISPACE+50 conference, the Moon Village Foundation Workshop gathered representatives from all over the world to its inaugural meeting. Mr. Johnson also serves as Co-Chair of the Moon Village Association Participation Mechanism Working Group, which had its first meeting during the Workshop. 

Nov 30, 2017
Washington Office Director Victoria Samson Moderated a Panel at the Defense Strategies Institute's 4th Space Resiliency Summit
Washington Office Director Victoria Samson moderated the "International Perspectives Toward Resiliency" panel at DSI's 4th Space Resiliency Summit, held in Alexandria, Virginia. Speakers included Natalia Archinard, Deputy Head of Education, Science and Space Section at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; Dean Cheng, Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; Michiru Nishida, Special Advisor for Arms Control, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan; and George Guy Thomas, Founder, C-SIGMA.

Dec 4, 2017
SWF Participates in the Fifth High Level Forum on United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management
This year's HLF aimed to substantively improve and strengthen the national geospatial information management capacities of countries, particularly developing countries, towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and evidence-based policy and decision making. Ms. Wilson was a speaker at the Fifth High Level Forum on United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), held in Mexico City, Mexico. This year’s theme was "Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Geospatial Technology and Innovation." The High Level Forum produced the Mexico City Declaration “Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: The Role of Geospatial Technology and Innovation,” which highlights role of geospatial technologies in meeting the SDGs, calls out several key initiatives aimed at doing so, and stresses the need for effective partnerships. 

Dec 6, 2017
SWF Participates in Discussion on the Technical and Legal Realities of Potential Conflict in Outer Space
Dr. Weeden participated in a webinar organized by the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association to talk about the technical and legal aspects of potential conflict in outer space. Dr. Weeden's portion of the presentation focused on comparing the fictional and Hollywood versions of war in space with the current technical and military reality, and describing the different types of attacks against space capabilities. He was followed by two lawyers from the U.S. Air Force who provided details about the legal restrictions on warfare in space.

Dec 13, 2017
Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson Moderated at Panel Discussion at the 12th Annual Eilene Galloway Symposium on Critical Issues in Space Law
Mr. Johnson moderated the ITU Norms and Rules for New Space Activities in Orbit and Beyond panel at the Galloway Symposium held at the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC. The panel featured Ben Reed, Deputy Division Director of the Satellite Servicing Projects Division at NASA Goddard, who briefed the audience on Restore-L and NASA’s satellite servicing; Don Jansky, of Jansky-Barmat who spoke about the planning for the ITU WRC-19; and Atilla Matas, (retired) Head of the Space Publication and Registration Division, ITU Radiocommunication Division, on ideas for a new ITU World Administrative Region. The panelists shared their expertise concerning how new space activities will fit into the current norm and regulatory structures at national and international levels.

Experts in the Media

Nov 17, 2017
On-Orbit Satellite Servicing: The Next Big Thing in Space?
Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden interviewed by SpaceNews on standards for satellite servicing.

Nov 21, 2017
Can Japan Clean up Outer Space?
Space Law Advisor Chris Johnson referenced in The Diplomat concerning active debris removal and space debris.

Nov 29, 2017
NASA Sensor to Study Space Junk Too Small to be Seen from Earth
Dr. Weeden quoted in Science Magazine on importance of new NASA space debris sensor.

Dec 1, 2017
50 Years of Space Law -Time to Rewrite the Rules?
Mr. Johnson quoted in The Washington Lawyer on the first 50 years of space law.

Dec 4, 2017
Is China Edging Ahead in the Race to Rule Space?
Washington Office Director Victoria Samson quoted in the Asia Times on China's growing space capabilities.

Dec 9, 2017
Is Elon Musk Even Allowed to Send His Car to Deep Space?
Dr. Weeden talks to The Verge about SpaceX's plan to launch a Tesla Roadster and oversight of commercial space.

Publications

Nov 6, 2017
CSIS and SWF Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden Discuss US-China Competition in Space on CogitAsia Podcast
Director of Program Planning Brian Weeden took part in a discussion on U.S.-China competition in space in the most recent episode of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' (CSIS) CogitAsia podcast. Dr. Weeden was joined by Mr. Todd Harrison and Dr. Zack Cooper from the CSIS Aerospace Security Project to discuss the current relationship between the United States and China in space, the sources of tension and potential conflict, and possible areas for future cooperation. 

Nov 15, 2017
Insight - Fostering Industry Standards for Satellite Servicing
In case you missed it, here is our November Insight piece by Dr. Weeden on fostering industry standards for satellite servicing. SWF is part of a team that recently won a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to help address this issue. 

Nov 30, 2017
#SpaceWatchME Op-Ed: Outcome of the High Level Forum Dubai 2017
United Arab Emirates Space Agency and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre Dubai hosted the UNOOSA High Level Forum "Space as a Driver for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development" in November 2017. Executive Director Michael Simpson was asked by SpaceWatch Middle East to share his thoughts on the progress made during this year's HLF, as well as the United Nation's long-term goals for outer space.

Happy Holidays from SWF!

One common theme at our last staff meeting of 2017 was grateful anticipation of some time to slow down and recharge over the end of year holiday period. Since so many of you have shared in our work this year, you probably share both that anticipation and the satisfaction of work well done. All of us at Secure World Foundation wish you a time of renewal and restoration as 2017 draws to a close. There is much work to be done in 2018, and we look forward to sharing important pieces of it with you.

- Executive Director, Michael Simpson

Copyright © 2017 Secure World Foundation, All rights reserved.


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